Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/india-myanmar-travel-restrictions-adbcea8ab9e7977ac2804788f9c75e3c?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share
Hundreds from Myanmar protest the Indian government’s decision to scrap the limited free border movement. Until now, India and Myanmar allowed people with ethnic ties to go up to 16km (10 miles) into each other’s territory without travel documents. Aizawl protesters reject New Delhi’s decision to erect a border fence between India and Myanmar. According to Chhuantea, a leader of the Central Young Mizo Association, “We want the free movement regime to continue because we have families on either side of the India-Myanmar border that was demarcated by the British for their convenience.” Thousands of Myanmar refugees reside in India, since Myanmar’s fighting between the government and ethnic rebels has caused thousands to flee to northeastern states. India claims they are ending the visa-free movement to “to ensure the internal security of the country.” This is because rebel groups with ethnic ties use them to seek safety in Myanmar.
The scrapping of the visa-free travel between Myanmar and India has the potential for various ripple effects for them and the surrounding countries. Refugees from the Myanmar versus rebels’ conflict will no longer be able to flee to India, pushing them onto other states instead. The public outcry of Indian and Myanmar citizens not being able to travel freely has the potential to pressure the Indian government to backtrack on the removal. The positive effects of the scrapping of visa-free travel are notable, since disallowing rebel groups from seeking refuge in either state is critical, especially during the fight between the Myanmar government and the ethnic rebels. Alternative precautions could be taken instead to prevent rebels from abusing their ethnic ties to gain refuge, but that would require India to backtrack and rethink their plan of actions moving forward.
In class we’ve discussed how states respond to different types of security threats. India’s response to the rebels using their ethnic connections to seek safety by shutting down the visa-free travel, though unpopular, is a response to the security issue coming from outside states/sources. The potential border wall between India and Myanmar would also be a response to the security issues on the border. India’s current threats have been coming from outside the state, so tightening security would allow them to “ensure the internal security of the country.” Regardless of the unpopularity of these solutions, India is upholding their end of their social contract to protect their citizens.